spotted Whiteness muft quickly be tarnished, and the fnowy Form defiled in the Duft. As the Lily pleases with the noble Simplicity of its Appearance, the Tulip is admired for the Gayety and Multiplicity of its Colours. What a Profufion of Dyes array its painted Cup! Its Tinges are fo glowing, its Contrafts fo ftrong, and the Arrangement of them both, fo elegant and artful! 'Twas lately the Pride of the Border, and the reigning Beauty of the delightful Seafon. As exquifitely fine as the Rainbow, and almost as extremely tranfient; it spread, for a little Moment, its glittering Plumage; but has now laid all its diftinguished Honours down. Those radiant Stripes are blended, alas! rudely blended, with common Mould. To a graceful Shape, and blooming Complexion, the Rose adds the most agreeable Perfume. Our Noftrils make it repeated Vifits, and are never weary of drinking in its Sweets. A Fragrance, fo peculiarly rich and reviving, tranfpires from its opening Tufts, that every one covets its Acquaintance. How have I feen even the accomplifhed Chariffa, for whom fo many Votaries languifh, fondly carefling this little Flower Yet Flower! That lovely Bofom, which is the Seat of Innocence and Virtue, whofe leaft Excellency it is to rival the Delicacy of the pureft Snows, among a Thousand Charms of its own, thinks it poffible to adopt an other from the Damask Rose-bud. even this univerfal Favourite muft fail. Its native Balm cannot preserve it from Putrefaction. Soon, foon, must it refign all those endearing Qualities; and hang neglected on its Stem, or drop despised to the Ground. ONE could wish, methinks, these loveliest of the inanimate Race, a longer Existence: But in vain: They fade, almost as foon as they flourish: Within less than a Month their Glories are extinct. Let the Sun take a few more Journeys through the Sky; then vifit this inchanting Walk, and you will find nothing but a wretched Wilderness of ragged or naked Stalks. But O! (my Soul exults in the Thought) the Garment of celeftial Glory, which fhall ere-long array the reanimated Body, will never wax old. The illuftrious Robes of a Saviour's confummate Righteoufnefs, which are appointed to deck the juftified Spirit, are incorruptible and immortal. No Moth can corrode their Texture, Texture, no Number of Ages fully their Brightness. The Light of Day may be quenched, and all the Stars fink in Obscurity; but the Honours of " Juft Men made perfect" are subject to no Diminution: Inextinguishable and unfading is the Luftre of their Crown. Tes; ye flowery Nations, ye must all decay. Winter, like fome enraged and irrefiftible Conqueror, that carries Fire and Sword, where-ever he advances; demolishes Towns; depopulates Countries; spreads Slaughter and Defolation on every Side So, juft fo, will Winter, with his favage and unrelenting Blafts, invade this beautiful Profpect. The Storms are gathering, and the Tempests mustering their Rage, to fall upon thefe Vegetable Kingdoms. They will ravage through the Dominions of Nature, and plunder her Riches, and lay waste her Charms. Then, ye Trees, muft ye ftand ftript of your verdant Apparel; and, ye Fields, be fpoiled of your waving Treafures. Then, the Earth, difrobed of all her gay Attire, muft fit in Sables, like a difconfolate Widow: The Sun too, that now rides in Tri6 umph umph round the World, and scatters Gayety from his radiant Eye, will then look faintly from the Windows of the South; and, cafting a fhort Glance on our dejected World, will leave us to the uncomfortable Gloom of tedious Nights. Then, these pretty Chorifters of the Air will chant no more to the gentle Gales. The Lark, the Linnet, and all the feathered Songsters, abandon their Notes, and indulge their Woes. Mute is every fhrill and tuneful Pipe: The Harmony of the Woods is at an End; and Silence, (unless interrupted by howling Winds) fullen Silence, fits brooding upon the Boughs, that are now made vocal by a Thousand warbling Throats. BUT, O ravishing Remembrance! the Songs of Saints in Light never admit a Paufe for Sadness. All Heaven will refound with the Melody of their Gratitude, and all Eternity echo to their triumphant Acclamations. The Hallelujahs of that World, and the harmonious Joy of its Inhabitants, will be as lafting as the Divine Perfections they celebrate.. Come then, Holy Love, and tune my Heart; defcend, Celestial Fire, and touch my Tongue; that I may stand ready to strike up, and bear my Part, in that great Hofanna, that everlasting Hymn. Tes; yes; ye flowery Nations, ye muft all decay. And, indeed, could you add the Strength of an Oak, or the Stability of an Egyptian Pyramid, to all the Delicacy of your Texture; yet fhort, exceeding fhort, even then, would your Duration be. For I fee, that all Things come to an End. The Pillars of Nature are tottering; the Foundations of the round World are falling away: "The Heavens thenfelves wax old like a "Garment." But, amidst these Views of general Ruin, Hete is our Refuge, Here our Confolation, We know that our Redeemer liveth. Thy Years, bleffed JESUS, fhall not fail: From Everlasting to Everlasting, Thou art still the fame; the fame most excellent and adorable Being; the fame om`nipotent and faithful Friend; the fame all. fufficient and ineftimable Portion. O! may we but partake of thy Merits; be fanctified by thy Grace, and received into thy Glory! Then, perifh, if ye will, all inferior Delights. Let all that is fplendid in the Skies expire; and all that is amiable in Nature |